Colombian production up by 8 per cent

Colombian coffee production has sustained a steady growth trend throughout 2016, according to the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC). However, the El Niño phenomenon has had a negative impact on coffee quality by increasing the percentage of lower quality beans and coffee berry borer, leading to a decrease in Excelso coffee exports. While coffee production reached a total of 1.1 million 60-kilogram bags in May 2016, Excelso coffee exports had a setback of 8 per cent . Between January and May 2016, coffee production increased 8 per cent , registering a total of 5.4 million bags. Similarly, during the past 12 months (June 2015-May 2016), coffee production reached 14.6 million 60-kilogram bags, the FNC has said. This represented a 16 per cent  increase compared to the 12.6 million bags registered between June 2014 and May 2015. In other Colombain coffee news, Juan Valdez, Colombia's premium coffee brand, has opened its first café in Curacao. The arrival of Juan Valdez in Curacao is part of the brand's Caribbean expansion strategy, which began in Aruba. “We decided to launch operations because of the country's high flow of foreign visitors,” said the President of Procafecol Hernán Mendez, the company that manages the commercial expansion of Juan Valdez. “We are confident that the quality of our coffee and the warmth of our service will make the new Juan Valdez café a tourist destination.” To date, a total of 115 Juan Valdez cafés are operating in 15 countries other than Colombia: Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Aruba, the US, Spain, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Curacao. For every cup or product that bares the Juan Valdez signature, small-scale Colombian coffee growers receive royalties that are invested in community welfare programs.